India expresses concern over Sri Lankan Army Chief's alleged derogatory remarks

(December 10, New Delhi,Sri Lanka Guardain) External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash has expressed concern over the Sri Lankan Army Chief's alleged derogatory remarks about the political leaders of Tamil Nadu.

Prakash said that Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Alok Prasad has taken up the matter with Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and assured that the matter will be taken up seriously.

"The matter was taken up strongly by our High Commissioner in Colombo with the Defense Secretary of Sri Lanka. The Defense Secretary of Sri Lanka promised to look into the matter and conveyed his regrets should any such comments have been made," said Prakash.

As per media reports, Sri Lankan Army Chief Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka described some of Tamil Nadu's political leaders, including the leader of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) V.Gopalasamy popularly known as 'Vaiko' and leader of Tamils National Movement P Nedumaran as 'jokers'.

Fonseka is also to have said that the Indian Government should not listen to their demands for a ceasefire in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanakan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 13 during his visit to New Delhi ruled out the possibility of ceasefire till the rebels laid down Arms.

The Tigers say they are fighting to establish a separate homeland for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority, which they allege has been marginalised by successive governments in Colombo led by the Sinhalese majority since independence from Britain in 1948.

But the Sri Lankan government says the rebels must be destroyed, because they are on a host of terrorism lists including those from the United States, India and Europe, and adds that it is increasingly confident of defeating them soon. - Sri Lanka Guardian